Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: 6,000 piped natural gas (PNG) users have surrendered their Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections as of Saturday, a govt official said on Sunday. “6000 PNG consumers surrendered their LPG till yesterday! A big thanks to them!!” said the secretary, ministry of petroleum and natural gas Neeraj Mittal on X. Further urging PNG users to give up their LPG connections he also said, “Join this strong bold group of DoGood citizens who have come forward to give up LPG to help those to get LPG who don’t have PNG. Give up yours today.”In the gas sector, supplies have been prioritised for households and transport, with full allocation to piped natural gas (PNG) and CNG, while industrial and commercial consumers are receiving around 80 per cent of their average usage. Fertiliser plants are being supplied at 70–75 per cent capacity, with additional LNG cargoes being arranged, a government statement said, assuring that govt stepped up measures to secure fuel and gas supplies, reported PTI.The ministry added that expansion of city gas distribution networks is being fast-tracked by easing approval processes and encouraging a shift from LPG to PNG.More than 2,90,000 new PNG connections were added in March. Companies such as Indraprastha Gas, Mahanagar Gas, GAIL Gas and BPCL are also offering incentives to promote PNG adoption.LPG supplies have been affected by the geopolitical situation, although deliveries remain normal with no shortages reported. Daily refill deliveries have crossed 55 lakh cylinders, while measures to curb diversion have been tightened, it said.Commercial LPG supply has been gradually restored to around 70 per cent of pre-crisis levels, with priority being given to hospitality, food services and key industries.The government has also increased kerosene allocations to states and stepped up action against hoarding and black marketing, carrying out around 2,900 raids and seizing nearly 1,000 cylinders in recent days.States have been asked to intensify monitoring, hold daily briefings, counter misinformation and expedite approvals for gas infrastructure. “The government reiterates its advice to the public not to believe rumours,” the statement said.In a further push to PNG, the government plans to stop LPG cylinder supply after three months to households that have access to piped natural gas (PNG) but have not opted for a connection, according to a statement just days ago. An exception will be made in cases where supplying PNG is not technically feasible, provided an authorised entity issues a no-objection certificate.The move comes amid LPG supply pressures due to disruptions in imports from West Asia, from where India sources a significant portion of its requirement. By pushing consumers in pipeline-connected areas to shift to PNG, the government aims to free up LPG supplies for regions that lack such infrastructure.Consumers in areas with PNG networks, including those in rented homes, will be required to transition, with officials treating gas as a basic utility similar to electricity and water. Around 60 lakh domestic and commercial consumers are estimated to be eligible for the shift, and about 2.2 lakh have already moved from LPG to PNG in recent days.The government is also accelerating the expansion of city gas distribution networks, with a target of providing 12.6 crore PNG connections by 2032.
